WICKLOW BRAVE scored impressively at Punchestown yesterday to earn a 14-1 quote from the sponsors for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Ruby Walsh opted to ride the Willie Mullins-trained 6-4 winner for speed, and despite a couple of slightly sloppy jumps, he came swinging around the outside on the run to the last.

Another slightly untidy jump briefly handed the initiative back to 5-4 favourite Lieutenant Colonel at the final flight, but Walsh's mount was quickly back on the bridle and cruised past his rival to score by four and a quarter lengths.

"I thought he could do something like that on good ground, I didn't think he could do it on this (heavy) ground," Mullins said of the winner.

"He pulled quite hard but the pace they go at Cheltenham will suit him better and I imagine he'll go straight there now. He's very, very speedy.

"To come there the way he did having pulled so hard was impressive."

Sky Bet’s Michael Shinners said: "Despite two or three sloppy jumps, Wicklow Brave ran out a very impressive winner and looks a lively contender for the Sky Bet Supreme."